Top Five Pest Stories of 2012

The National Pest Management Association names 2012 the year of
infectious diseases

December 20, 2012 03:50 PM Eastern Standard Time

FAIRFAX, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--From the West Nile virus and Yosemite Hantavirus outbreaks to Lyme
disease and the plague, it could be argued that 2012 was the year of
pest-related infectious diseases. But, there were also some weird and
wacky pest stories that grabbed headlines over the past twelve months.
Here’s the list of the top five pest stories of 2012, as ranked by the National
Pest Management Association (NPMA):

West Nile Virus (WNV) Outbreak: The mosquito-borne WNV
outbreak became the second-worst in the history of the country.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there
were 5,387 cases of WNV disease in people, including 243 deaths in 2012.

Hantavirus and the Plague: Ten people fell ill and three died
from exposure to deer mice infected with Hantavirus
after staying in tent cabins at Yosemite National Park. A Colorado girl
was also infected with the Bubonic
Plague, a rare disease that wiped out one-third of Europe in the 14th
century.

Acorn Crop Boosts Ticks: This spring, the tick
season was heavier than in previous years due to an increase in
2010’s acorn crop and a decrease in the white-footed mouse population
this year. These strange events forced many ticks to find new
warm-blooded hosts – humans, which caused a surge in Lyme disease.

Spider Calls Woman’s Ear Home: One of the strangest and most
unusual stories of 2012 has to do with a spider
that was recently removed from a woman’s ear canal after doctors found
it living inside for five days.

Termite Species Re-Identified: An aggressive termite
species was recently re-identified in Broward County, Fla. Native to
the Caribbean, tree
termites — once thought to have been eradicated in the United States
— can cause widespread property damage in a short period of time. This
species is being carefully watched by experts because it’s difficult to
control with existing treatment methods.

For more pest news or to locate a qualified pest professional, visit www.pestworld.org.

The NPMA, a non-profit organization with more than 7,000 members, was
established in 1933 to support the pest management industry's commitment
to the protection of public health, food and property.